The goal of “Project Spectra!” is to advance knowledge of Solar System exploration by providing students with actual spectroscopic data in an accessible format. (Courtesy LASP)

Current Update

“Project Spectra!” is a NASA Approved Product and has been developed with NASA funding. We have used the materials located on this page to offer teacher professional development workshops, however we do not have any workshops scheduled at this time; please contact us at epomail@lasp.colorado.edu for more information.

Introduction

“Project Spectra!” is a science and engineering program for 6th – 12th grade students, focusing on how light is used to explore the Solar System. “Project Spectra!” emphasizes hands-on activities, like building a spectrograph, as well as the use of real data to solve scientific questions.

Here, you will find lessons for middle school students that can also be easily adapted for high school students or modified for elementary school students. Each lesson has a front page listing national standards in science and mathematics, prior knowledge students need for the lesson, materials, and time to complete the lesson. We have also provided tables listing national standards the lessons conform to, and a scope and sequence. We have included fun and informational links to explore the nature of light and spectroscopy further.

What is a Data Story?

A data story is an inquiry driven, standards-based lesson using real data from actual spacecraft! Each data story is a cogent, well-bounded story of solar system exploration that is accessible to students.

(* Denotes data story lesson; ** Denotes engineering lesson, Note: A “spectrograph,” is a tool used in spacecraft and modern telescopes that uses a detector to record properties of light. Technically, the students build “spectroscopes” where the human eye directly observes light. We consider the student to be the detector when they build their “space-worthy” spectrographs, but leave further explanation at the discretion of the instructor.)